A Brief Explanation of Fear & Phobia

A Brief Explanation of Fear & Phobia

A Fear: This is an emotional response to a threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. Fear should not be confused with anxiety as this usually occurs without any external threat

A Phobia: This is an intense reaction or irrational reaction to something or some situation. The sufferer will; experience feelings that appear to be completely out of their control. The sufferer will actively ensure that they never allow themselves to be in any situation that could cause phobic reaction.

Top 10 Common phobias

Arachnophobia
The fear of spiders.
This phobia tends to affect women more than men.

Ophidiophobia
The fear of snakes.
Often attributed to evolutionary causes, personal experiences, or cultural influences.

Acrophobia
The fear of heights.
This fear can lead to anxiety attacks and avoidance of high places.

Agoraphobia
The fear of situations in which escape is difficult.
This may include crowded areas, open spaces, or situations that are likely to trigger a panic attack. People will begin avoiding these trigger events, sometimes to the point that they cease leaving their home.
Approximately one third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia.

Cynophobia
The fear of dogs.
This phobia is often associated with specific personal experiences, such as being bitten by a dog during childhood.

Astraphobia
The fear of thunder and lightening.
Also known as Brontophobia, Tonitrophobia, or Ceraunophobia.

Trypanophobia
The fear of injections.
Like many phobias, this fear often goes untreated because people avoid the triggering object and situation.

Social Phobias
The fear of social situations.
In many cases, these phobias can become so severe that people avoid events, places, and people that are likely to trigger an anxiety attack.

Pteromerhanophobia
The fear of flying.
Often treated using exposure therapy, in which the client is gradually and progressively introduced to flying.

Mysophobia
The fear of germs or dirt.
May be related to obsessive-compulsive disorder.